PhD Studentship: Exploring the Role of UK Drainage Catchments in Managing Water Levels

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided.

Overview

England's vital low-lying areas, including the Fens and Romney Marshes, depend on complex networks of drains, rivers, and pumps to regulate water levels. These drainage catchments are crucial for protecting homes, sustaining fragile wetlands, and enabling productive farmland. However, effective water management is challenging due to an incomplete understanding of these systems. We lack clarity on water movement, their sensitivity to extreme weather, and the cumulative impact of different water users. This uncertainty seriously hampers planning, especially as climate change brings increasingly severe floods and droughts. Robust evidence is needed to ensure the resilience of flood defences and maintain ecological health.

For further information on the project, we will be hosting a ‘Prospective applicant webinar’ at 2:00pm on the 26th of November. Link to the event can be found here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/376b2195-d8da-47c0-86e2-b18813ec19e3@4a5378f9-29f4-4d3e-be89-669d03ada9d8. 

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

1st October 2026

Award Duration

3.5 years

Application Closing Date

8th January 2026

Sponsor

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Supervisors

Dr Anna Murgatroyd 

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (inc. computing, mathematics, engineering etc.). Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.  

Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.  

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How To Apply

For information on how to apply, please see https://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-funding/search-funding/?code=flood268  

Contact Details

anna.murgatroyd@newcastle.ac.uk

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